When Is It Time for Assisted Living?

You may find yourself taking on the position of family caretaker as you become older. This role may start out simple, such as providing rides to and from appointments, but it has the potential to grow as your loved one’s needs change. At the end of the day, most families simply want their elderly loved ones to be happy, well, and safe. However, if the circumstances of that loved one change, caretakers may wonder if this is the best option.

When is it time for Assisted Living?

When a family hires an in-home caregiver to help with personal care and other activities, a senior can sometimes live independently. A change in health or circumstance, on the other hand, may necessitate more assistance. In certain cases, a change may be required. Transitioning into a senior care facility is a life-changing experience, but when is it time for assisted living?

Who Should Make a Senior Living Recommendation?

This generation of elders has a reputation for being fiercely self-sufficient. While many families hope that their senior loved ones will let them know when they require assistance, many older persons are hesitant to acknowledge they require further assistance. They’ll probably declare everything is “fine,” even if it isn’t.

You may believe it is preferable to wait for your aging loved one to request assistance before approaching them, but it is also a good idea to plan ahead of time and discuss the matter with your loved one before significant health or safety problem forces you to act immediately. Try to make a plan after assessing the options available to you and your loved ones so that you can choose the best option for your circumstances.

Knowing when and how to start that type of talk can be difficult as well, but there are a few signals to watch for in your loved one that suggests a change is necessary.

The Signs That A Senior Requires Assisted Living

If you are starting to ask yourself when is it time for assisted living, then consider this: A senior’s health and capacity to care for themselves doesn’t usually deteriorate overnight, but there are signs that it is time to transition into a senior care facility: 

• Disheveled clothing, unclean or unkempt hair, or body odor indicate that a generally tidy senior’s personal hygiene has been neglected.
• When walking or moving from a seated position, the senior appears shaky. They may even be sitting up straighter in order to avoid collapsing.
• Unexpected bruising or scratches might sometimes be indicators of mobility issues.
• The senior is gaining or losing weight unintentionally, frequently as a result of a bad diet or trouble preparing meals.
• Around the house, there are stacks of unopened mail or past due notices.
• Another symptom of a struggle is difficulty keeping track of finances.
• Another source of risk is medication errors or failure to renew medications on time. To evaluate if they’re on track, check the number of pills left in prescription bottles and compare it to the expiration date.

A thorough inspection of an elderly relative’s home may show other indicators that change is required:

• Do you have heaps of dirty dishes, dusty furniture, mounds of laundry, or overflowing trash between visits?
• Is there an odor in the house that suggests it should be cleaned?
• Are minor maintenance issues, such as light bulbs not being replaced or appliances not working, being overlooked?
• Is your refrigerator stocked with expired foods and drinks?

Be objective in your assessment of the need for change.

If you answered yes to more than one or two of the indicators above, it’s the right time to talk to your aging loved one about senior living.

Remember that you are not alone as you go through these changes.

If you are living in the North Carolina area and are considering assisted living for yourself or a loved one, we’d love to connect with you!

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